Sunita Gupta

Nanocarriers and nanoparticles for skin care and dermatological treatments

Nanotechnology (nano: One billionth) is a novel arena with promising applications in the field of medicine, especially pharmaceuticals for safe and targeted drug delivery. The skin is a phenomenal tool for investigation of nanocarriers for drug delivery for topical and dermatological application. The physicochemical characteristics of the nanoparticles, such as rigidity, hydrophobicity, size and charge are crucial to the skin permeation mechanism. Many nanocarriers such as polymeric, inorganic and lipid nanoparticles and nanoemulsions have been developed and some like carbon nanotubes and fullerenes still need further exploration for future use in skin care and dermatological treatments. Risks of nanopollution and cytotoxicity also need to be kept in mind while exploring various nanoparticles for medical use.

Clinicoepidemiological study of pigmented purpuric dermatoses

Background: Pigmented purpuric dermatoses (PPD) are a group of vascular disorders with varied manifestations which cause concern and are resistant to treatment. The literature is still lacking in clinicoepidemiological studies. Aim: To study the epidemiology, etiological, host and environmental factors, clinical manifestations, its variations, and the type prevalent in this part of the world. Materials and Methods: All cases of PPD were selected for the study from Skin and Venereal Disease, Out Patient Department between January 2008 and June 2009. Their history, examination, hematological investigations, and, in a few, histopathology findings were also recorded and data obtained were evaluated statistically. Results: There were 100 cases of PPD of total 55 323 patients (0.18%). There were 79 males and 21 females between 11 and 66 years. They were working as police men, security guards, barber, chemist, teachers, students, farmers, businessmen, and housewives. In a majority, there was a history of prolonged standing in day-to-day work. Purpuric, brownish pigmented, lichenoid or atrophic lesions were seen depending upon the type of PPD on lower parts of one or both lower limbs. Blood investigations were normal. Schambergs disease was seen in ninety five, Lichen aureus in three, lichenoid dermatosis and Majocchis disease in one case each. Discussion: Three clinical types of PPD were diagnosed which may represent different features of the same disease. Cell-mediated immunity, immune complexes, capillary fragility, gravitational forces, venous hypertension, focal infection, clothing, contact allergy to dyes, and drug intake have been incriminating factors in the past. Patients occupation and environmental factors may also be considered contributory in precipitating the disease. Conclusions: The study revealed the problem of PPD in this geographical area, its magnitude, clinical presentation, the type prevalent, and possible aggravating factors to be kept in mind while managing the disease.

Primary abdominal tuberculosis presenting as peritonitis in a young child–managed surgically

Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is the sixth commonest extra-pulmonary TB form after lymphatic, genitourinary, bone and joint, miliary and meningeal tuberculosis. We are presenting a rare case in a young female of age 7 year diagnosed as peritonitis and intestinal obstruction. Operative findings revealed dense fibrosis in interloops and perforation of the small bowel. She was put on antitubercular treatment for one year. Patient was discharged in satisfactory condition and is in follow up for 2 months.

Trichophyton rubrum onychomycosis in a 10-week-old infant

dry eye syndrome. Skin changes in the neonate are marked by generalized erythema. At times, the skin is leathery with diffuse scales. Erythrokeratoderma develops during infancy. Erythematous, nonscaling, verrucous plaques are characteristically located on the forehead, cheeks, perioral area, elbows, knees, and scalp. Linear and spiny hyperkeratoses of the flexures, ichthyosis hystrix-like scaling of the limbs, diffuse truncal follicular hyperkeratosis, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, teeth anomalies, nail dystrophy, sparse eyelashes and eyebrows, and alopeciamaybe seen. Primarily, sensorineural deafness, usually congenital in onset, with varying severity is always present. The hearing loss acts as an impediment to the development of normal vocalization. Few other associations of KID syndrome are known. Two cases with Dandy–Walker malformation and one with an enlarged cisterna magna have been reported. Miteva reported a child with bilateral lacrimal punctal agenesis who also had bilateral amastia. The present report is the first to describe a cardiovascular association, namely perimembranous VSD, in KID syndrome.

Subungual exostosis of the thumb - first case report in youngest age

Subungual exostosis (SE) is a benign osteocartilaginous tumor of the ungual apparatus, particularly of the toes. It affects both sexes equally, more frequently in the second and third decades of life. The present case highlights this entity (SE) in a six and half year old female child affecting the terminal phalanx of the right thumb. She presented to us with gradually enlarging, painless, subungual hard nodule on the right thumb. Roentogram of the hand showed bony outgrowth arising from the terminal phalanx of right thumb. Lesion was excised and sent for histopathological examination. Histology showed evidence of SE. No recurrence at postoperated site was seen till eight months of follow-up.

Neurilemmoma of the parapharyngeal space

Neurilemmomas are rare neurogenic tumours and their parapharyngeal location is very uncommon, A case of neurilemmoma of this location is presented.

Pilomatricoma: Forget me not

Pilomatricoma is a benign skin neoplasia, which is not commonly encountered in general practice. The diagnosis is often made only after histopathology. The present case report is of a 30-year-old woman who presented with swelling in neck, which was diagnosed as pilomatricoma only after excision. The idea of reporting this case is that pilomatricoma is not rare in occurrence but rarely diagnosed because of lack of confirmation of excised swelling and it is imperative that it should be kept in the differential diagnoses of all superficial skin tumors by dermatologists and surgeons.

Generalized eruptive histiocytoma

We are reporting a 62 year old male, who over a period of 1 year, developed a symmetric eruption of hundreds of brownish papules, with spontaneous regression of some lesions. The clinical and histopathological findings were compatible with the diagnosis of generalized eruptive histiocytoma.

Necrodestructive herpes zoster

Herpes Zoster (HZ) is a self-limiting viral infection of skin and mucosa caused by Varicella zoster virus. Cutaneous lesions of HZ usually heal without any scarring and hyper/hypopigmentation. Though, post-inflammatory depigmentation and deep scarring can occur in immunocompromised or HIV positive individuals. The present report is of a elderly immunocompetent female who had HZ involving the ophthalmic division (including nasociliary branch) of trigeminal nerve. The lesions over nose caused mutilating scarring resulting in complete obstruction of the right anterior nare.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis in bronchogenic carcinoma: A rare case report

We illustrate here a rare case of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis in bronchogenic carcinoma where the patient presented primarily with neurological symptoms of encephalitis. We have described the radiological findings of the case.